I laughed reading FBI Director Robert Mueller refer
to the release of terminally ill convicted Lockerbie bomber Ali al-Megrahi
''as inexplicable as it is detrimental to the cause of justice. Indeed [Scottish Justice
Secretary Kenny MacAskill’s] action makes a
mockery of the rule of law.''
Now I can think of many countries that Mueller’s
statement could be directed toward, but never would I have guessed Scotland.
Surely, Mueller must have been thinking of more egregious acts of Scottish
injustice than compassionate
release.
Perhaps Scotland has innocent
people on death row?
Nope. Capital punishment was completely abolished
for all offenses in 1998. The last execution was carried out in
1964.
Can you face life imprisonment for shoplifting in
Edinburgh?
Surprisingly, no. The United States is actually a real
trailblazer on this one.
What about other instances (besides compassionate
release) of Scotland making a mockery of the rule of law?
I searched high and low for Scottish acts of torture, murder,
extraordinary rendition, and indefinite detention (post Scottish
Enlightenment).
Nothing.
On what island in the North Sea does Scotland hold
detainees for years without trial?
See what I’m getting at?
Mueller needs to focus on cleaning his own backyard
before complaining about the neighbor’s.
In light of new revelations
on CIA interrogations and the Justice
Department announcing an investigation into their practice, Mueller's
comments are now even more comical.
We can learn from Scotland. Namely that the law applies equally
to all, even a terrorist.